Shwemawdaw

shrine, Pegu, Myanmar

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July 13, 2026

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The Shwemawdaw shrine, also known as the "Golden Shrine," is a significant Buddhist pagoda located in Pegu, Myanmar. Standing at 288 feet (88 meters) high, it is considered one of the most venerable religious sites in the region. Legend states that the shrine contains two hairs of Gautama Buddha. Originally of Mon origin, it suffered severe damage from an earthquake in 1930 but was restored in 1954. Pagodas, like the Shwemawdaw, are towerlike structures that evolved from ancient Indian stupas and are typically found in Buddhist temple complexes across East and Southeast Asia. Pegu itself is a historic city that has served as the capital of the Mon kingdom and is surrounded by ruins of its ancient defenses.12

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Pegu
…its many pagodas, the ancient Shwemawdaw (“Golden Shrine”), 288 feet (88 m) high, is the most venerable. Said to contain two hairs of Gautama Buddha, it is of Mon origin and was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1930, but restoration was completed in 1954. The Shwethalyaung, a colossal reclining…
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…its many pagodas, the ancient Shwemawdaw (“Golden Shrine”), 288 feet (88 m) high, is the most venerable. Said to contain two hairs of Gautama Buddha, it is of Mon origin and was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1930, but restoration was completed in 1954. The Shwethalyaung, a colossal reclining…
Read More